Idiopathic Hypertrophic Subaortic Stenosis

Idiopathic Hypertrophic Subaortic Stenosis General Information

Idiopathic Hypertrophic Subaortic Stenosis is the generic medical term used to describe a chronic cardiovascular condition affecting the heart. This has been classified as a rare disease, however the factors that lead to its appearance are not yet fully known. Patients affected by this condition present an abnormal growth and arrangement of the cardiac muscle cells leading to a thickening of the heart walls, especially in the left ventricle and septum. This enlargement of the muscles leads to a reduction in the size of the ventricles, thus restricting the amount of blood that can enter the heart at any time and reducing the heart’s pumping capacity.

The exact cause of Idiopathic Hypertrophic Subaortic Stenosis is yet to be established (the exact meaning of the term “idiopathic” is “without a known cause”). There have been cases where the affection was non-obstructive in the first stages, and thus it went unnoticed. However, eventually the affection became obstructive limiting the cardiac output and causing the patient to experience the symptoms associated with the affection.

It has also been noted that this affection may be genetically transmitted from predecessors that have suffered from the condition, making it more likely for a patient with medical family history this affection to become afflicted with it. It is highly advised that if you suspect that you may have this condition, you should immediately contact your personal health care specialist for further observation of the symptoms and for establishing an exact course of action to follow.

Idiopathic Hypertrophic Subaortic Stenosis Symptoms

It has been noted that at times, Idiopathic Hypertrophic Subaortic Stenosis may be asymptomatic, particularly in situations where the disease is non-obstructive. However such cases are rare, and generally the affection will produce a number of symptoms in the affected patient. The symptoms may differ from one case to another, and there have been reported cases which presented unique symptoms. In cases where the Idiopathic Hypertrophic Subaortic Stenosis causes symptoms in the patient, most commonly these are chest discomfort coupled with breathlessness. When performing physical activity, the patient may experience fatigue and even fainting due to the restricted blood flow, while heartbeat may evolve to strong, rapid, pounding strokes and palpitations. The patient may present swollen feet or ankles, as well as neck veins that are distended.

In some cases the disease caused sudden death in the patient, as the heartbeat became chaotic; the heartbeat became irregular and no blood was pumped as the heart more like quivered instead of beating. The advanced stages of the affection may be marked by the apparition of severe heart failure. Along with it, congestion and fluid accumulation may appear, as well as all the other symptoms of this condition. There may be other symptoms associated with Idiopathic Hypertrophic Subaortic Stenosis that are not listed here. It is highly advised that you consult with your personal health care specialist immediately as soon as any of the above symptoms or any other unusual and abnormal manifestations appear. As with any cardiovascular disease, this is an extremely serious affection and neglecting to bring it to the attention of a specialized physician may result in severe consequences, maybe even death.

Idiopathic Hypertrophic Subaortic Stenosis Treatment

In order to diagnose a case of Idiopathic Hypertrophic Subaortic Stenosis, the specialized health care professional may observe the irregular and abnormal sounds of the heart characteristic to this condition by employing the use of a stethoscope. However, this may not prove sufficient to place a diagnosis and in such cases the examining physician may require further tests to confirm his observations. Monitoring the heart’s electrical activity though an electrocardiogram is one of the methods most commonly used in such situations. Also, echocardiography may prove to be very useful, by allowing the health care specialist to observe the extent of the thickening in the cardiac muscle wall and to assess the situation and the heart’s capacity to function properly. There are several other tests that may be performed to assist the examining physician in their work, such as radionuclide studies, cardiac catheterization, x-rays and heart muscle biopsy.

In treating the Idiopathic Hypertrophic Subaortic Stenosis, most often the specialized health care professionals will recommend first and foremost a list of changes in the patient’s lifestyle. Physical activity should be reduced, especially in patients that are affected by serious electrical abnormalities, as well as in those suffering from blood flow impairments. Also, any kind of attendance to sports should be avoided – it has been noted that this may cause sudden death especially in younger patients that are not suffering from any other functional impairment.

Medication therapy is often employed in cases of Idiopathic Hypertrophic Subaortic Stenosis as well, and the examining health care specialist may prescribe a treatment with beta blockers, such as Metoprolol, Propranolol or similar compounds, which act by slowing the pumping action in the heart and thus reducing any symptoms that the patient may be experiencing. Calcium channel blockers such as Verapamil are also often employed, for their relaxing effect on the cardiac muscles and for their strong action in regards to reducing the blood pressure within the heart. Other types of drugs that may be prescribed in such cases are diuretics and anti-arrhythmics, which may have a positive effect in relieving the symptoms of heart failure. However, due to their possible side effects and contraindications, drug therapy may not be possible or desirable in all cases. Such patients need to employ different types of treatment.

Pacemaker devices are implants that are often employed in cases of Idiopathic Hypertrophic Subaortic Stenosis. Apart from their effect on the pattern and force of the heartbeat, such implants may reduce the obstruction in the heart’s chambers. However, the pacemaker needs to be monitored after insertion, as the electrical impulse needs to be properly adjusted. The last option available in Idiopathic Hypertrophic Subaortic Stenosis is cardiac surgery. Although there is a risk associated with surgical procedures (up to 3% chance of death due to surgery), such procedures help relieve the symptoms in as much as 70% of the cases. There are several procedures available, such as the surgical excision of a part of the thickened muscle wall that separates the chambers which will allow the blood flow to circulate normally again. Another procedure that is often employed is the replacement of the mitral valve connecting the left heart chambers. If you are suffering from this condition, it is advised that you consult with your specialized health care professional, in order to determine what is the treatment best suited to your case.